Acutely altered mental status as the main clinical presentation of multiple strokes in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Cerebral infarction in COVID-19 patients might be associated with a hypercoagulable state related to a systemic inflammatory response. Its diagnosis might be challenging. We present two critically ill patients with COVID-19 who presented acutely altered mental status as the main manifestation of multiple strokes. METHODS: Clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up of the patients. RESULTS: Two patients in their sixties were hospitalized with a bilateral pneumonia COVID-19. They developed respiratory failure and were admitted to ICU for mechanical ventilation and intense medical treatment. They were started on low-molecular-weight heparin since admission. Their laboratory results showed lymphopenia and increased levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer. Case 1 developed hypofibrinogenemia and presented several cutaneous lesions with biopsy features of thrombotic vasculopathy. Case 2 was performed a CT pulmonary angiogram at ICU showing a bilateral pulmonary embolism. When waking up, both patients were conscious but with a remarkable global altered mental status without focal neurological deficits. A brain MRI revealed multiple acute bilateral ischemic lesions with areas of hemorrhagic transformation in both patients (case 1: affecting the left frontal and temporal lobes and both occipital lobes; case 2: affecting both frontal and left occipital lobes). Cardioembolic source and acquired antiphospholipid syndrome were ruled out. COVID-19-associated coagulopathy was suspected as the possible main etiology of the strokes. CONCLUSION: Acutely altered mental status might be the main manifestation of multiple brain infarctions in critically ill COVID-19 patients. It should be specially considered in those with suspected COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. Full-dose anticoagulation and clinical-radiological monitoring might reduce their neurological consequences.

Impact of double stent retriever configuration on first-pass effect in stroke: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Efficient recanalization of occluded cerebral arteries is crucial in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Double stent retrievers have shown the potential to enhance the rates of recanalization on the first pass. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the double stent retriever technique and the predictors of achieving first-pass effect in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This prospective multicenter study involved 209 patients from 16 comprehensive stroke centers in Spain. Patients with occlusions in the anterior circulation were treated using the Aperio Hybrid double stent retriever. The study examined various deployment techniques, including simultaneous and sequential deployment and stent configurations, comparing the Y-shaped and parallel configurations. RESULTS: The double stent retriever technique achieved a first-pass effect in 72.7% of cases and a final successful recanalization rate of 99.5%. The Y-shaped configuration was significantly associated with higher recanalization rates on the first pass (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.18 to 5.68, P=0.02). Procedural complications were mild to moderate in 6.7% and severe in 1.5% of cases, with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurring in 3.3% of patients. At 3 months follow-up, 57.2% of patients achieved a good clinical outcome, with a mortality rate of 15.1%. CONCLUSION: The findings support the efficacy of the double stent retriever technique, particularly the Y-shaped configuration, in achieving high recanalization rates on the first pass with an acceptable safety profile. This technique may offer clinical benefits for future acute ischemic stroke treatment protocols.